Decorating Pages: TV and Film Design

Production Designer Darren Gilford joins Decorating Pages to break down the production design of TRON: Ares — from building a bold new Dillinger red world to honoring the franchise’s visual DNA. Darren shares the real craft behind the look: materials testing (including a candy-apple red technique on stainless panels), how CNC-cut surfaces and grain direction affect highlights on camera, the engine...

Production Designer Alexandra Schaller joins me to talk about crafting the haunting world of TRAIN DREAMS , the Netflix adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella. We unpack how the cabin became a full character, why the fire tower and logging camp were such ambitious builds, and how shooting almost entirely with natural light and candles shaped every design choice. Alexandra shares how she worked with...

Let's take a quick look back at the top episodes of 2025, best reads and much gratitude for making the podcast top of the charts in many counties. A deep dive into Avatar: Fire and Ash with Production Designers Dylan Cole and Ben Procter and Set Decorator Vanessa Cole . This episode breaks down why Avatar is “live action by other means,” how practical builds and reference testing support perfo...

Today’s episode is a double-feature for design nerds. First, I’m sharing Production Designer Loo Sung He on Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice —in a first-ever translator format where I’m reading her responses. Then we switch to TV with my full audio interview on Overcompensating with Production Designer Shayne Fox and Set Decorator Erika Lobko . Film first, TV second—two deep dives, one episode. Fi...

Sinners is the kind of movie where you can pause any frame and feel the history. Ryan Coogler’s 1932 Mississippi Delta vampire epic follows twin brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who open a juke joint in an old sawmill, only to collide with vampires, the Klan, and a century of American sins. The film has become one of 2025’s most acclaimed releases, with strong box office, critics’ score...

In this episode of Decorating Pages , Emmy-winning set decorator Kim Wannop sits down with Production Designer Cara Brower to talk about designing Hedda, Amazon MGM Studios’ new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler —now streaming on Prime Video.  Brower—whose credits include Candyman, The Marvels, Twin Peaks: The Return, Us, and Hail, Caesar!—explains how she found and transformed a single En...

In this episode of Decorating Pages , I’m talking with costume designer Jennifer Johnson about the wild, layered costume design of Bugonia , directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone . We start with Michelle’s single, unforgettable look: a McQueen-inspired power suit, custom skirt and burgundy overcoat all chosen to telegraph power, control, and a character who always feels slightly out...

Black Friday sale! Use code BLKFRI50 for 50% everything on the Decorating Pages Shop site on Black Friday through Cyber Monday. In this Thanksgiving edition of  Decorating Pages , I’m giving thanks for the prop houses and vendors that keep film and TV sets alive. I’m joined first by Fausto from  Hollywood Studio Gallery , one of Los Angeles’ most important art rental houses. He shares the history...

👉 Get the FREE Quick Reference Set Decorating Template: www.decoratingpagespodcast.com Award winning Production Designer Tamara Deverell joins me to unpack the production design of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein with Oscar Isaac as Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the creature for Netflix—from an Arctic ship frozen in ice to a vaulted tiled crypt and a towering Medusa-watched lab. Tamara has b...

👉 Get the FREE Quick Reference Set Decorating Template: www.decoratingpagespodcast.com Production Designer Erin Magill and Set Decorator Melissa Licht unpack the look of On Swift Horses —a 1950s romance threading Vegas casinos, racetracks, track-home suburbia, and coded queer spaces. We cover the Disney Ranch farmhouse and diner, Santa Anita interiors/exteriors, and the AMC-lobby-to-casino transf...

Production Designer Kasra Farahani breaks down Fantastic Four ’ - First Steps 's retro-futurist language: the Baxter Lab’s white-with-primaries palette, dimensional-printed mosaics , and a New York that’s two-thirds period, one-third future. We cover Yancy Street’s realism (40 storefronts), early-color playback graphics, and how the art department’s graphics threaded into marketing. Perfect fo...

Class One of The Art of Influence opens with The Wizard of Oz —how Production Designer Cedric Gibbons and Set Decorator Edwin B. Willis built Oz from the ground up. I unpack the sepia-to-color switch, Munchkinland’s circular plan, the Yellow Brick Road as a story spine, Emerald City’s Art Deco vocabulary, the Wizard’s forced-perspective corridor, and why the sets still feel alive today. This episo...

👉 Get the FREE Quick Reference Set Decorating Template: www.decoratingpagespodcast.com Production Designer Scott Chambliss and Set Decorator Andrew Baseman take me inside the design of Kiss of the Spider Woman —a film that braids a raw prison drama with a full-blown MGM-style musical. We talk about building the cell in a shuttered Uruguay prison, why wooden beads beat crystal, and how a “second-t...

Production Designer Kelly Van Wagoner Hogan and Set Decorator Emily Dawson-Trent unpack how Wizards Beyond Waverly Place turns a tight multicam schedule into maximal, magical sets—glittering cave builds, a kinetic wizard lab, and Alex’s grown-up apartment that Selena Gomez called “so Alex.” We talk about overnight portals, clearance battles, and why balloons are both budget-friendly and terrifying...

Production Designer  Kathrin Eder  takes us inside the making of  The Man in My Basement  (Walter Mosley). We cover transforming  Wales into 1994 Sag Harbor , building a  house exterior in a swamp , staging interiors at  Dragon Studios , and how a  stained-glass front door  became the set’s emotional center. Plus: a real-home-turned- quilt shop ,  Arts & Crafts  details, UK prop-house treasure...

Production Designer  Brandon Tonner-Connolly  and Set Decorator  Tafv Sampson  take us inside  FX’s  The Lowdown —a grounded Tulsa world built with real locations, a rebuilt diner, and a bookstore layered with 5,000 hand-picked titles and an apartment above it. We unpack color choices, hero props for investigative storytelling, and the small, invisible decisions that make the sets feel lived-in. P...

📥 FREE Set Decorator Quick Reference TemplateSnag the free 18-page template I use on every project. Just sign up here: https://www.decoratingpagespodcast.com Step behind the camera and discover how legendary set design has shaped the very way we experience film! set decorator Kim Wannop counts down her top five most ICONIC films whose sets have transformed Hollywood — influencing genres, styles,...

On Decorating Pages Podcast , Emmy-winning host Kim Wannop talks with Production Designer Jean-François Campeau about AppleTV+’s epic series Chief of War , starring Jason Momoa. From hand-lashed huts and carved canoes to sacred tiki sculptures and cliffside temples, Jean-François explains how the team honored Hawaiian culture while shooting across Hawaii and New Zealand. Hear how cultural blessing...

Step inside the haunting design of Eddington with Production Designer Elliott Hostetter . In this episode of Decorating Pages Podcast , host Kim Wannop explores how small-town New Mexico shaped the film’s unsettling world. Elliott reveals how abandoned restaurants became police stations, how Ari Aster personally designed the creepy dolls, and how clutter, hoarding, and character history shaped the...

In this solo episode of  Decorating Pages Podcast , Emmy-winning Set Decorator  Kim Wannop  reveals her best tips for staying organized in the fast-paced world of film and TV production. From apps like Notability and Scriptation to Google filters, shared notes, and her favorite old-school notebooks, Kim shares the systems that actually save time and keep the art department aligned. Perfect for fil...

Production Designer Beth Mickle joins Kim Wannop on Decorating Pages to reveal the artistry behind James Gunn’s Superman . From constructing 200+ glowing Fortress of Solitude crystals, to designing the Daily Planet with bold orange tones, to uncovering the Hall of Justice location—Beth gives an insider’s look at the craftsmanship, nostalgia, and innovation that shaped this iconic reboot. Listeners...

Step into the lavish world of  Bridgerton  with Production Designer  Alison Gartshore  as she reveals how the Netflix phenomenon is brought to life through breathtaking sets and period-perfect details. In this episode of  Decorating Pages Podcast , Emmy-winning host  Kim Wannop  dives into the creative process behind Bridgerton’s iconic ballrooms, romantic gardens, and aristocratic estates. From r...

Explore the dark and fascinating world of Gotham City in this personal chat with Kalina Ivanov, Production Designer of The Penguin . Kalina shares how she designed authentic, gritty spaces that elevate Colin Farrell’s iconic villain portrayal. Hear insider details about Gotham’s streets, villainous lairs, and Kalina's creative storytelling techniques. We also talk about the Production Design C...

Join me in this fun and personal chat with Heidi Miller, Set Decorator for the Emmy-nominated Jimmy Kimmel Show . Heidi takes us backstage, revealing her process for designing dynamic, comedic sets every night. Discover insider stories, unique celebrity guest requests, and how Emmy recognition shapes her creative vision. Perfect for fans of comedy, production design, and late-night television. Sub...

Get an insider’s breakdown of the  2025 Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Production Design  with Emmy-winning set decorator Kim Wannop. Dive deep into this year's standout nominees like  Severance ,  The Last of Us ,  The Penguin ,  Andor ,  Bridgerton ,  Hacks , and more. Hear expert predictions, Emmy voting insights, and fascinating industry history. Discover why these TV sets captivat...